Washing-machine



ATE

JAMES F. WVOOD AND HENRY A. DIXON, OF VOODYARD, OHIO.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,181, dated July 2, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES F. 'WOOD and HENRY A. DIXON, of Woodyard, in the county of Athens, State of Ohio, have invented an Improved Combined Wringer and Washer, of which the following is a specification.

.Our invention is a combination washing and wringing machine, which operates as a pounder for cleaning the clothes and a presser for wringing the water therefrom after the cleansing of thesame. It is not necessary, however, to use the machine as a combination device, as it can be used for either purpose.

The object of our invention is to provide a cheap, simple, neat, and compact machine of the class described, which can be quickly and easily operated withoutfatigue, and one which will effectively wring or press the water from the clothes without injury to the same.

A still further object is to provide a machine in which large and cumbersome articles, such as blankets, rugs, carpets, &c., can

be conveniently washed and thoroughly wrung without stretching or otherwise injuring them.

With these objectsin view our invention consists, essentially, in an outer vessel or tub, an inner vessel or cylinder of foraminous material, in which the clothes are placed for washing or wringing, a foraminous pounder or presser, and means connected with the tub for operating said pounder or presser within the inner cylinder.

Our invention consists, also, in the improved means, whereby the presser or pounder can be given a reciprocating motion or'locked in any desired position.

Our invention consists, also, in certain de tails of construction and combination of parts, all of which will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a'side view of our improved combination-machine. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section. Fig. 3 is a central yertical section taken upon a plan or right angle to Fig. 2.

In constructing a machine in accordance with our invention we provide a main tub or vessel A, supported upon legs B,which fit in socket 0, attached to the side or bottom of tub. An inner cylindrical vessel D of forami- Application filed March 19 1 895. Serial No. 542,389- (No model.)

A that an annular space or channel E of considerable width surrounds the same. The cylinder is provided with a bottom D, which is elevated a short distance above the bottom of the tub to permit water to pass throughthe bottom of cylinder and drain upon the bottom of tub. The bottoms of the tub and cylinder are formed with central openings, and passing upward therethrough is a vertical tube F, which is rigidly attached to the bottom of tub in such a manner as to prevent leakage.

Working within the cylinder D is a circular presser or pounder plate G, foraminous also in construction, said presser or pounder being adapted to be reciprocated within said cylinder and press or pound upon the clothes held Within the same and upon the perforated false bottom. This presser orpounder G has a tubular stem G, which slides upon the tube F, the upper end of said stem being connected with theupper end of a rack-bar H, reciprocating within the said tube F, which rack-bar is operated by means of a pinion I, mounted upon a horizontal shaft K,journaled in brackets K upon the under side ofthe tub bottoms. The connection between the tubular stem G and rack-bar H is preferably effected by means of a spring-bolt g, to the spring g of which is attached the tubular stem, as shown in'Figs. l and 2. A guide-bracket L is attachedto the bottom of the tub opposite the pinion I, and carries a friction-roller l, which serves to hold said bar and pinion in engagement, and the bar passing between the members of'the bracket prevents any lateral movement.

For the purpose of operating the shaft and its pinion we mount a ratchet-disk M upon the outwardly-projecting end of the shaft, and loosely mounted upon the end is a lever N, carrying a spring-actuated pawl or thumbcatch N, adapted for engagement with ratchet-disk. The lever is also provided with a spring pawl N said pawl being adapted to move the disk in one direction and the catch N being adapted to move it in either direction, as the said catch, by its en gagementwith the disk, virtually renders the lever rigid with said shaft, so that by vibrating the lever the shaft will be rocked, the pinion operated, the rack-shaft reciprocated, and 'the pounder or presser operated. A double pawl O is pivoted to the side of the tub and is adapted for engagement with the ratchet-disk M for holding the same against movement.

When it is desired to use our machine, the tub is filled with water to any desired level, the pounder raised above the top of cylinder, and the clothes or fabrics to be cleaned placed within said cylinder. The articles which can-not be placed within the cylinderare placed within the tub in the annular space surrounding said cylinder. The lever is then rocked back and forth, reciprocating the 'ponnder and forcing the water through the clothes. hen one set is washed, the pen nder is again elevatedabovc the top of cylinder, theclean clothes or articles are removed,and others placed in the cylinder. This operation is repeatedcuntil'the washing operation is completed.

Now, when it isdesired to wring the washed clothes, the plug P of the draw-off cock or faucet is removed, discharging all the water from the tub. The clothes are then placed Within the cylinder andthe presser or ponnder forced down upon them, expressing .all LtllG water therefrom, which escapes through the sides and bottom of the cylinder and drains off from the bottom of tub by the-open fau-' cet- P.

By means of the hand-lever, pawl, ratchet, and disk, the presser can be easily pressed down upon the clothes with great force, the pawl O preventing any backward movement of the disk while so compressing the clothes or articles within the cylinder. This operation can be repeated as often as desired, and in case the machine is intended to be used as a wringer alone the surrounding tub will not be necessary. \Ve prefer, however, to make the combined machines, and we also prefer to arrange the operating mechanism upon the bottom, as we find it more convenient and efficient.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with the tub, cylinder,

andpounder or presser, of the tube extending therethrough, the tubular stem connected to the pounder or presser and carrying a spring bolt at its upper end, the rack bar passing through the tube and tubular stem, the pinion and the shaft, the guide bracket and roller, the ratchet disk, the lever and, pawls, all arranged substantially as shown and described. In testimonywhereof we afiix our signatures in the presenoeof two witnesses.

JAMES F. \VOOD. HENRY A. DIXON. \Vitnesses:

A. ll. WoonYARn, HERBERT PARKER. 

